Tea with Friends

by Elizabeth Knight

Book Overview

In a similar format to Storey's very successful Country Tea Parties, Tea with Friends presents a year's worth of occasions to bring friends together around a pot of tea. Includes 13 original,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580170501
• ISBN13: 9781580170505
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Storey Publishing
• Length: 60 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.8" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Book

TEA WITH FRIENDS is a terrific resource for those who need specific ideas for year round tea parties. Each chapter suggests one theme party for each month of the year. Within each chapter is background information on the theme, a section entitled "Setting The Scene" in which the author gives suggestions on what service and accessories you could use, as well as ideas for centerpieces and music. She also includes a menu, a featured recipe and a craft project or activity relating to the theme, My favorite is November's Victorian Afternoon Tea. Knight gives insightful background information on how tea became a British obsession during the reign of Queen Alexandria Victoria and the causes behind rise in the popularity of black tea, (one of the menu offerings she suggests). In essence, she not only makes menu suggestions, but she provides the background you need to understand why she is making these suggestions. She also includes an example of what an invitation for your November tea might look like. In "Setting The Scene" she lists excellent suggestions for accenting the table with Victorian charm, as well as detailed instructions on how to make a Victorian centerpiece. There are also music suggestions that would be appropriate for this setting. Knight also includes a full menu with a featured recipe for Watercress and Stilton sandwiches. Finally she incorporates detailed instructions on how to make lavender sachets. Sidebars tell about various traditions of the Victorian royal family. In just a few short pages, you have the background, recipes, serving ideas and special touches for a monthly theme tea party anytime of year.I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves tea and is looking for simple, creative ways to share the pleasures of tea time with friends.Cris Cunningham

More than just another book about tea....

Amazingly, Elizabeth Knight's book achieves the Herculean task of providing a primer for beginners as well as delighting the avid and informed hostess with creative and polished tea themes. The menus serve as both a journey and a destination; have a look and enjoy both!The art, coupled with the quotations and introductory material make this a delightful book just to leaf through, but the ideas and the warmth of them sing, "It's time for a cup of tea with friends."The initial chapter, "Taking Tea," launches the novice but serves the informed as a succinct reference. Keep this volume in an easily accessible place!

My favorite tea book.

I love this book! I'm a serious collector of books about tea and teatime (I currently own 95.) Tea With Friends is one of my top 5 favorites,maybe even #1. I turn to it again and again when I'm entertaining or just want to review brewing times for different teas. It's a great gift for tea novices because it is entertaining as well as informative. I have given several as gifts (with a tin of tea, of course). Several tea catalogs (including Harney's) feature this book as part of a gift basket.I recommend this book for your "tea library".

a good source for planning & setting up tea parties

The first 9 pages of this 60-page book contain a brief history of tea and then general information on how to plan and set up a tea party, including pictures of how to arrange the tea table. It has the best advice in this regard of any of the other tea books I've seen.The rest of the book consists of a theme tea party for each month, with suggested table settings, activities, and menus. Only one recipe is actually listed per month, however, so you will DEFINITELY need more recipes from another book. Two of my favorite tea-time cookbooks are "The Book of Afternoon Tea" by Lesley Mackley and "Totally Teatime Cookbook" by Helene Siegel.This is an excellent "how to" book and makes a nice gift, particularly if you include a tea-time cookbook.

Well Researched. A great Tea information book.

As a caterer and Tea shop owner,this book is well researced and chock full of wonderful tidbits and ideas.I have noticted this book outsells other tea books in my shop.It is a wonderful and needed addition to any Tea lovers library!